Newsletter #45
Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand. ~Confucius
Hello Friends!
Welcome all new subscribers and a big thank you to all paid subscribers!
Was Chinese philosopher Confucius ( C.551-c.499 BCE) also bombarded with information every day?! I am, but that is also part of the nature of my work. Every day, I read all the news I can digest regarding the environment, climate change, environmental activism, pollution, healthy lifestyle choices, climate resilience and what people are doing locally or in other countries that is inspiring, and using myself as filter- sharing what I found the most interesting for this newsletter. There really is an abundant amount of news and info out there, and I am often overwhelmed by it, so I just step back, take a break out in nature, and go for a walk in the woods.
Do you remember reading about a sweater made from seaweed in issue 41? Or the Department of Seaweed in issue 43? Once again, Seaweed is being featured! In this issue, I’m letting you know how it’s a part of my life. You will also learn why Plastic Recycling is a Myth; what a Vertical Forest is; my latest news about The Rabbit Hole and my E-store and a short film about the American Farmer. Happy Thanksgiving week! Onwards!
#1- Eating Seaweed
I didn’t grow up eating seaweed. My childhood was spent in France and summers in Maine, and neither my french or american families had either sushi or seaweed in our family meals. It wasn’t until I had sushi for the first time when I was twenty, that I learned you can eat seaweed like nori. I remember being amazed that sea weed was edible! Over the years, I’ve incorporated seaweed into my diet, as I continue on my journey of making healthier lifestyle choices. Food is a big part of those choices.
I’ve learned that seaweed contains many beneficial nutrients, including iodine and tyrosine (which support thyroid function), is a good source of vitamins and minerals; contains a variety of protective antioxidants and provides fiber and polysaccharides (they support gut health).
Some of my favorite seaweeds are Kombu, Nori and Wakame. I chop them up and add them to lentil soup or a vegetable broth based soup with slivered onions, carrots and celery. Adding a wedge of cooked Steelhead trout as well. Delicious!
My favorite seaweed brand, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, is available in my store on Amazon. (As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases). You can also find it in your local supermarket.
**Important note: Eating seaweed may interfere with certain medications. Seaweed contains a high amount of potassium, which can be harmful to individuals with kidney disease. Seaweed also contains vitamin K, which could interfere with blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin.
Read more about seaweeds health benefits here
Good info on ways to add seaweed to your diet
#2- Don’t Recycle Your Plastics
According to Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics, “Plastic recycling doesn’t work and will never work. Plastic recycling is an abysmal failure.”
Did you know that only 5% of plastic is recycled and that 15 million tons of plastics enter the ocean every year, much of it coming from street litter that washes into rivers and eventually makes its way into the oceans.
For many years, we have been dutifully recycling plastic waste, thinking that it’s all being responsibly recycled. However, the story is actually very different. Most of our waste in dumped in third world countries, polluting their communities with our waste.
You can recycle paper, glass and aluminum. These are turned into new products. I have many glasses made from recycled glass, and most paper products I purchase are made with recycled paper.
I don’t know the solution to plastic waste except to reduce our use of it. I’m not sure it’s possible to eliminate it all together but we can buy less of it.
Also, please support a bill that is coming up in the New York Senate: A.5322/S.4246. which will cut plastic packaging in half and prevent mythical false solutions from counting as recycling. Write to or call your local representative and let them know that you support this bill and they need to as well.
Read this piece that came out yesterday: New York sues PepsiCo over plastics it says pollute, hurt health
Did you know that yesterday (Nov.15th) was declared as American Recycles Day
Learn more about the work of Beyond Plastics here
Shout out to my friend Dianna Cohen and her Plastic Pollution Coalition
#3-Vertical Forest
Imagine living in a city and having nature so close that it’s literally on your terrace. I don’t mean a few geraniums, or herbs in pots but a small forest outside your window, whether you live on the ground floor or the 20th floor.
One such building is in the works called Wonderwoods, and is located in the center of Utrecht. Designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti and MVSA Architects, the project’s 200 apartments facades will host about 10,000 shrubs and 360 trees capable of producing 41 tons of oxygen each year.
The trees positioning on the balconies, built to support them, will reduce pollution and micro-particles, purifying the air, dampening city noise and shielding the windows from solar radiation and wind. The plants are expected to draw 30 animal species to the city, including blackbirds, robins and swallows!
Work is underway and should be complete by mid-2024.
The first vertical forest tower was constructed in Milan in 2014.
Watch a video here about the project.
#4-The Rabbit Hole & PW’s Store + Studio
I’m thrilled to unveil the latest additions to my store, just in time for the festive season! My on site store, The Rabbit Hole, welcomes visitors by appointment on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 to 4pm, while the PW store + studio, my E-store, is open 24/7.
The Rabbit Hole boasts exclusive products that aren’t all available online- wasp nests, homegrown birdhouses, giant dried allium heads, goldenrod brooms, and including a free section featuring items in excellent condition that I no longer need- a small effort to promote reuse and minimize waste.
This season, I’m introducing several unique products for the first time from parcels of Wild Foraged Black Walnuts to Organically Grown String Bean Pods and glassine packets and reusable glass jars brimming with Wild Foraged Mullein tea or the soothing blend of Organically grown Lemon Verbena and Lemon balm tea from my Rivers Edge Farm, and Wild Foraged Golden Oyster Mushrooms- these unique offerings are limited, once sold they won’t be available until after the Summer 2024.
Beautiful handmade wrapping paper
Come and explore the charm of these-one-of-a-kind finds at The Rabbit Hole. I would love to see you and discuss all things awesome about nature!
Priscilla Woolworth Store + Studio online
#5- Movie: The American Farmer
Did you know that the average age of an American farmer is 57. What happens when they retire? From Edible Schoolyards to Green Collar jobs, young people are learning how to grow their own food, eat healthy and engage with land and community.
Watch this 2 min 46 second short film about the American Farmer by The Lexicon of Sustainability.com
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Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving.
See you again in 2 weeks!
Priscilla